By Jennifer John
A Civil Society Group, Imo Political Awareness Group (IPAG), led by the former Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Imo State chapter, Comr. Collins Opuruzo has carpeted desperate political actors within the mainstream opposition parties in the state for sponsoring the insecurity and bloodletting being witnessed in the state.
The group made this allegation through an address read by its leader, Collins Opuruzo during a press briefing in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
He said the opposition figures sponsor and actively participate in stocking the fire of insecurity in the state, do everything within their powers to sabotage effort of security agents to combat the crimes, and turn back to cry wolf about insecurity in the state, as well as accuse government of masterminding insecurity.
He alleged that some opposition figures were cut “pants down” plotting how to make the state ungovernable, after which armed bandits struck at the Imo State Correctional Centre and freed over 1844 inmates, which he described as a total declaration of war, preparatory for a violent takeover of power by a desperate clique within the opposition.
He said the Civil Society Group is disturbed that as the November 11 governorship election draws near, the Anti Imo opposition elem in Imo PDP have once again commenced their onslaught against Imo State.
“They create uproar in the East, strike in the West and ask Imo people to blame the government. But Imo people are very intelligent, discerning and smart. They know that when the Witch cries at night and the baby dies in the morning, it is unnecessary to ask who killed the baby”.
He said the group in question have even criticized the governor for visiting Lagos to make peace between Igbos and their hosts in Lagos. A move he said well meaning Igbos all over the world have been applauding.
Opuruzo alleged that sometime in June, 2023, bandits imported by leaders of Imo PDP fell out with their sponsors and attacked the state secretariat of the party, damaging almost all properties in the building, but leaders of the party failed to report the incident to the police.
“We consequently call on the Inspector General of Police and Director General of the State Security Services, to beam their searchlight on the activities of Imo PDP and immediately move into action to investigate and prosecute those behind the horrifying attack. It will open a can of worms”
He berated the representative of Ideato Federal Constituency at House of Representatives, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere for accusing Uzodimma of perpetrating insecurity, using the Ebubeagu security network, even when he (Ugochinyere) won his election while in Abuja and no single gun shot was fired by Ebubeagu to disrupt the election.
He also made it clear that Uzodimma and his party members have been the greatest victims of the insecurity and wondered how any right thinking man will accuse the governor of sponsoring the insecurity.
“It is shocking that Ikenga, by his own admission declined to participate in a pan Igbo meeting convened by Ohanaeze Ndigb in Abuja, aimed at permanently resolving the insecurity situation in the region. How could he turn around to accuse governor Uzodimma who provided the lofty initiative, leadership and resources needed for such patriotic engagement of not showing commitment to resolving the issue”, Opuruzo queried.
